by Silva Payne

Created on: July 05, 2009

Hawthorn has long been used in traditional herbal remedies; Hawthorn (Crataegus) is a common large shrub across much of Europe, Asia and north America, and is a member of the rose family. Depending on the location, it grows up to 15 m tall, and has a compact habit. The leaves are born spirally around the branches, accompanied by spines or thorns that give the shrub its common name. In early summer it carries bunches of creamy white flowers that turn to pear-shaped red berries known as haws, that are around an inch long. Several colloquial names for the shrub relate to the flowers; they generally appear in May, giving it the name of Mayblossom or simply, May tree.

As a hedgerow shrub, and thus being widely available to everyone in bygone times, the Hawthorn has been associated with several herbal remedies and also much European folklore. Generally, the leaves, flowers and berries are used for treatment of digestive, and circulatory and blood ailments. The berries contain flavonoids and procyanidins which are antioxidants, and the same as can be found in apples, black tea and onions. The active ingredients are extracted using alcohol.

Hawthorn, when ingested, acts as a vasodilator. This is the process of relaxing the walls of the arteries and veins which causes them to widen and thus enable the blood to flow more freely. Hawthorn may be used to treat patients with raised blood pressure and with circulation problems. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect and may help lower blood cholesterol levels. It is important to inform your doctor if you are taking hawthorn supplements because it can interact with conventional blood pressure and cardiovascular medication with a detrimental outcome. Anyone suffering from angina or hypertension (high blood pressure) should seek medical advice before taking Hawthorn supplements alongside their prescribed medication.

Some studies have shown that Hawthorn administered to rodents decreased their blood sugar levels, and investigations are continuing into the use of hawthorn extracts by diabetic patients. In these cases, it is an extract from the leaves of the Hawthorn plant that are used. However, rodents without diabetic symptoms did not display a reduced blood sugar level.

The side effects of taking Hawthorn extract preparations are usually mild. They can include symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, dizziness, sleeplessness and agitation. It may also cause stomach upsets. These symptoms are all related to the herbal properties of the Hawthorn and should be a reason to stop taking the preparation. If symptoms persists, you should seek medical advice.

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